State Center Project is Key to Downtown Transformation, Strengthening Transit, Says Greater Baltimore Committee President Fry Print This Story Email This Story Save this Link View PR Newswire's RSS Feed Bookmark with del.icio.us BALTIMORE, March 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Greater Baltimore Committee President Donald C. Fry praised the state's selection, announced today, of a team headed by Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse to plan and develop a mixed-use complex of offices, homes, shops and a hotel on the 25-acre State Center site that houses five Maryland government office buildings. The state's concept for the project, published in a Fall 2005 request for developers, includes 3,200 housing units, 1.2 million square feet of office space, 570,000 square feet of retail space and a 200-room hotel. The development site is bordered by Martin Luther King Boulevard, Madison Street, Dolphin Street, and Howard Street. "This is a key transit-oriented development opportunity with significant implications for Baltimore's continuing downtown transformation and for strengthening the role of transit in the city and region," said Fry, noting that the development will be at a major transit hub served by the Metro, light rail and multiple bus lines. "Existing and future stations, such as those planned for the Red Line, represent important opportunities for economic development that benefits local communities and the region. "This project is a very logical extension of the tremendous amount of existing private and public investment in revitalization opportunities beyond Baltimore's waterfront areas on both its east and west sides," said Fry. Downtown revitalization and developing a fast, easy, and reliable transit system in the region are top priorities for the Greater Baltimore Committee, a private organization of business and civic leaders that works to strengthen the business climate and to identify and nurture major business development opportunities in the Baltimore region. The GBC houses the Baltimore Transit Alliance, a diverse coalition of business, community, higher education and environmental organizations that advocates for better regional transit. "We hope that, among other things, this project will serve to strongly motivate the city and state to continue to work together to improve light rail service along Howard Street, resulting in better timing of traffic lights for trains and reduced light rail travel time through the city center," Fry said. "Struever Bros. is smart to take on this project," Fry said. "The company is widely known for its innovative development strategies and for converting existing, underused assets into attractive locations for business and commercial use. "At the GBC, we're encouraged that the concept of this project includes substantial housing at several price levels, including affordable, workforce rates as well as higher-end market rates," said Fry. "As a community, it's important that we find ways to develop more affordable housing for the broad middle class that is the core of our workforce." SOURCE Greater Baltimore Committee ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Issuers of news releases and not PR Newswire are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content. Terms and conditions, including restrictions on redistribution, apply. Copyright © 1996- 2010 PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved. A United Business Media company.